The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-10-05
THE GUESTOF ST.LOUIS
President Cleveland Visits the Fair and
Speaks at the Exchange.
Reception in the afternoon at the Lindeli
Thousands Unable to Gain Admit
tance-A Large Throng.

ST. LOUIS, October Still this morning
the President has been the guest of Mayor
Francis, but to cay and tomorrow he be-
longs to the people. Fairer weather could
not De asked. The skies are clear and the
gentle north winds are sufficiently cool to
make light overcoats desirable. The
streets cleansed by last nights shower are
free from dust, and everywhere along the
line of the Presidents ride to the fair
grounds the side walks are crowded to their
utmost capacity. The Presidents carriage,
drawn by a Quartette of richly caparison-
ed, high-steppiDg horses, and folio we'd by
five other carriages, provided for his trav-
cling companions and the local committee
in charge, reached the Francis mansion in
Vandeventer place few minutes before
10 o'clock, At 1915, the President and
Mrs. Cleveland appeared at the door of the
mansion and were applauded by the crowd
of ladies and children that had gathered in
the park in front of the residence. There
was a noticeable absence of men, and the
dresses of the people indicated the prepon-
derance OF the better classes. Maj. @. G.
Rain water entered the carriage with the
President and wife, and In a few minutes
they were moving briskly toward the fair
grounds, escorted by squad OF mounted
police, and the citizens committee in car
risges.
Hundreds of vehicles crowded with PEG.
pie, awaited On Grand avenue, at the en-
trance of Vaudeventer Place, and joined
the procession, which was strung out along
the avenue for more than mile. There
was no noise whatever along the route ex-
cept the chatter of horses hoofs on the road
and the tramp of thousands of feet upon
the beaten walks. No mishap or incident
occurred to mar the pleasant morning drive
and the party arrived at the gate of the fair
grounds. The drive to the fair grounds was
made at trot.
1t was children's day, and the youngsters
were out in great force. They. with moth:
ers, nurses and friends, packed the seats of
the smphitheater and the surrounding
promenade, to the number of sixty thous.
and. A brass band in the pagoda in the
center, attempted to make itself heard, but
the shrill voiced congregation made every.
thing but the bass drum insudible. The
visitors did not alight. After driving
round the amphitheater track, halt was
made and Mrs. Cleveland was presented By
the lady superintendent of the Kindergar-
ten schools, with a handsome basket OF
flowers. The children led by the band,
sang Hail Columbia and the cortege af-
ter drive through the fair grounds, made
its way back to the city, where thsy went
directly to the Merchants Exchange.
Mrs. Cleveland did not accompany the
President to the Exchange but was left en-
route at the residence of the Mayor, whencs
she went to that of Mrs. Scanlaa, one of
society's leaders, where the ladies of St.
Louis had an opportunity to pay their
respects.
AT THE EXCHANGE.
On arriving ut the Merchants Exchange,
the President was taken 10 the director
room where large plumber of representa-
tive citizens from the interior of the State
were introduced to him by counties. When
this ceremony was over the President was
escorted to the main ball of the Exchange.
The immense room, which is 225 feet long
and $50 feet wide, was jammed to its utmost
capacity with people and the President had
difficulty ia getting from the reception
room TO the platform. On the first ap-
pearance of the President, loud cheers
went up from the entire multitude aud az
he assembled the platform, the enthusiasm
was intense. Mr.. Frank Garennie, presi.
dent of the Merchants Exchange, intro
duced Mayor Francis, and declared this the
most suspicious day for St. Louis within
her history. Mayor Francis then welcom-
ed the President to the city and State, and
after another explosion of cheers the Presi-
dent responded as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
If I am expected to make an extended
speech on this occasion / am afraid / shall
disappoint you, and this should be sorry
to do after having succeeded at last
through much tribulation, in standing face
10 lace Win my Ob. LOUIS Liz
trbuletion Of which / speak has arisen
from the extreme kindness of vast mum
Der OF the American people and the cordi
al invitations they have rendered me tc
stop and see them on my way to you.
Your city was the objective point of my
travel in this direction. but 1t has some
times seemed to me that every town be
tween Washington and here has been rep
resented IS being directly on my route, and
1t has been hard TO convince their kind and
enthusiastic citizens that it would not be
entirely easy, within the time at my dis
posal, to pay them visit. My own incli
nation leading me in the direction of theil
desires, it has been a difficult matter to re
sist their opportunities, but have made
up my mind that the people OF st. Louis
are to blame for the entire perplextty and
disappointment which this matter has
caused, for it was thought that if accept
ed every invitation 1 would never react
home at all.
expect that anything 1 might say con
corning yeur State or city, in the way o.
leudstions or congratulations would hard
ly equal your own estimation OF the sub
ject Ibelieve there was time when st
Louis was determined and jealous riva
of Chicago. 1 don't know whether TIN
condition continues or not; bat hope
does. While you can hardly expect, look
ers-on to take sides in such q contest, VI
are interested TO the extent that such
struggle adds 10 the growth and improve
ment of the country at large. Both o
these cities exemplify in q wonderful de
gree, how completely and how speedil.
American energy and business ingenuit
utilizes every available element of mum
cipal growth, land how every useful type O
the worlds population is assimilated II
the grand purpose of American expansion
81 am here reminded of what suppose I
be the fact, that more than one half you
voters are Of foreign birth and parentags
The growth and increase of your city II
every way indicate, think, that the cou
dition Of your population, just made az
parent, Is by no means to be deprecats ed
and my observation during a long rss
dence in city similarly situated has le'
me to know the value to any commuuit
of the industrious, frugal, and the thrift
men and women who come from fOreig
lands TO find new homes with us; who IL
vest themselves with our citizenship, an
who are satisfied and content with ia
freedom of our Government, and with on
laws and institutions. The line is easil
drawn between them and the non-assimi
ating emigrants who seek our shores soisi
for purposes involving disturbance and d.
advantage to cur body Dolitic."
hope I may, without improperly, So